Better milage, sacrafice safety

Well, seems your government has been calling for improved MPG for years now! This time they are getting serious. The President's recent announcement for automakers to reach the goal of 35.5 MPG (average) by 2016 is a "radical" expectancy and may have some negative results on highway safety. A recent FORBES article states, "The purpose is to improve the environment and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. The impact will be more far reaching and consequential-and not all benign." It continues, "The rules will mean greater carnage on our highways." The article sites a previous change in fuel economy standards by the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules in 2002, in which an additional 2,000 deaths were contributed to cars being made smaller and with lighter materials. Why should the result be any different with this round of MPG expectations? In fact, advocates say that by forcing automakers to reach these goals by 2016, buyers will pushed heavily into hybrids or electrics and over time everyone will be driving smaller cars.

AHH hahh! now we get to the real issues. The problem is that almost half of vehicular collisions (and 51% of crash deaths) involve only one vehicle rather than a multi-car collision. Incidents such as hitting a tree, a pole, bridge abutment or something Else. A second effect will be that the newer cars, hybrids or other, will cost significantly more than traditional styled autos, therefore, people are likely to keep their older cars an extra 2-3 years. (harmony has posted about this before). Lighter materials, expected to be used in the new round of MPG improvements, have yet to be tested thoroughly and with deadlines approaching may be put into use too soon. As we found out in past post about why we drive like we do, comfort in our safety systems tends to lead drivers to take more risk. If drivers of the future cars are led to believe that the materials are durable, then when these risks result in a collision what will be outcome, severe injury or death? Improved MPG is great but not at the sacrifice of lives. The automakers have had more than enough financial woes just selling cars, they don't need to be burdened with civil suits do to poor quality.

Commuters, while we may be shrinking the size of the cars we drive, we must consider the difference in outcome when more cars can fit on the road! that's right the greater potential for more collisions. Harmony would like to offer this to the CAFE supporters, a life saved is far more important than a gallon saved.

Thanks for reading and ponder this, is your diet going to get you into that new car?

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